Crime of Spelled Ink

by Harley Gordon

LITTLE WOMEN MEETS MURDER, SHE WROTE in this new paranormal cozy mystery series. Harri Stride is back in Plum Fields for her sister Maeve’s wedding and a summer visit with her family. When she’s given the gift of an antique ink pot from her old friend, strange things start happening. The worst is the dead body at her sister’s wedding. Using her experience writing romantic suspense novels, Harri is determined to find answers to clear her friend’s name. And the spelled ink pot might just be the tool she needs to solve the crime. Or it might be the cause of the crime. Harri will have to use all her wits and friends to find the answers they need to get back to their fun and adventurous summer. Crime of Spelled Ink is a supernatural mystery inspired by Little Women.

202 pages, Paperback

Published August 22, 2019

Reviews

[Janet Miller]

An enjoyable story with hints of "Little Women" for the characters. But a cozy mystery. Teddy was my favorite character. Nice short chapters makes it move along quickly and easy to stop if you have to stop to do something else for a while. Looking forward to book 2. Highly recommended.

[Anna]

It was an easy read , I liked everything apart from very rushed and abrupt ending

[Elizabeth]

The book itself was okay.
However, very poor proofreading/editing! So many errors! Don't they make programs or apps that could help?
Author: Please, do better! This was painful.

[Krystyna]

Little Women brought up to date with a side of magic

A great read but the proofing is terrible. From misspelled words to wrong names. It really needs that fixed to get a 5^. The plot is great and the culprit is someone you really overlook with all the suspects and motives available. The characters are a cross between the ones in Little Women and the author's own take on them but they are vivid and real whilst the magic is a great touch. Teddy, the dog, is grumpy, sarcastic and cutting - wonderful!
She has come home and plans to stay the summer with her I'll sister in a cottage (if she can find one) but first they have to get through her other sister's wedding. However the dead body of the Town's Mean Girl has her best friend as the number one suspect. Add in a corgi dog found in the grounds (she and her sister decide to rent), a magic inkpot that gives the dog the power of speech, everyone assuming she will find the culprit as she writes romance suspense and a police chief that is as ineffective as the wind. Can she work out why she got the inkpot and what powers it actually has? Can she get a truce going with Teddy? Will she work out who the killer is and clear her BFF?

[Sue-Dee Numb]

The author has used the classic Litttle Women as her muse, and has reimagined the characters with her own telling,

Having come back for her sisters wedding and struggling to make the most of a bad day, her best friend stumbles on the dead body of one of the other bridesmaids (who just so happens to be the mean girl with no end of suspects) however Harri's best friend Julian is number 1 suspect,
Harri is staying in town in a rented cottage, as an author her friend gifts her with an antique ink pot strange things start to happen! Not least a talking dog!

But Harri has much to do and many suspects to wade through to exonerate her friend!

I enjoyed this it was a pleasant read and yes I can see the hint of Little Woman but it is just a hint. some editing needs to be done, certainly the copy I read had some spelling errors and odd name drops. BUT If you can see past it, there is a great story here, and I look forward to see where it goes.

[Sue]

This is a modernization of Little Women (names changed) with a twist of the addition of a mystery and a little paranormal activity.

Harri Stride has returned for a short stay in Plum Fields to be a bridesmaid in her sister Maeve’s wedding. The last thing that anyone expects is for a dead body to be found in the freezer at the wedding reception and family friend Julian to be targeted by the police as the main suspect.

As Harri starts to investigate the murder, she decides to put together a murder board and journalize all the events. She is a writer after all. But when strange things start to happen as she uses the inkpot and pen given to her as a gift, she soon discovers there is more than meets the eye.

This is a cozy paranormal mystery filled with a bit of romance, lots of twists and turns, a good plotline, and some very crafty writing.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carol]

Harri's best friend, Jules is the top suspect in Sally murder simply because 1. he found her body. 2. She was after him to move back to the family fold and marry her. 3. they were heard arguing just before 4. he has no alibi. 5. it suited everyone else that it was he. Wow, I almost convinced myself there too! But Harri and Belle knew Jules only too well, and they knew Sally too, who was such a pain that 'most everyone had a motive to get rid of her.

My first Harley Gordon novel, and I am delighted to say that I have now found another author that I would certainly look out for and read. Well written, sweet and fun cozy with a touch of the paranormal, enough to make it interesting. The characters are relatable to, and plot well defined. Well done Harley, good start to a new series.

[Anne Dwyer]

Harriet has come back to Plum Fields because one of her sisters is getting married. She is spending the summer there, and spending time with her sister Belle, who is ill as well as her best friend, Julian. When one of the bridesmaids is murdered at the reception, Julian becomes the prime suspect, and Harri will do whatever she can to help him and find the truth. The old inkwell given to her appears to have magical powers - will that - and a talking corgi - help solve the crime? This is the first book I have read from this author, and it wont be the last! I cant wait to find out more of what happens to the residents of Plum Fields!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jodi Sweet]

I love it! A mystery writer involved in a murder mystery! How awesome! I liked that there was a character with fibromyalgia. I suffer from it, and having it described perfectly in a book, it just made me feel less alone. Oh, there was some magic...and a talking dog because of the magic...and the dog was great! I want a talking dog! This was just a really great start to the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dorothy Scott]

A touch of Little Women, a touch of magic, and a wonderful mystery in this new series, Plum Fields Mysteries. I heartily recommend it and will be purchasing it to support this talented author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary]

Plum Fields is a delightful place and the characters are great. The mystery and magic kept me spellbound. Cannot wait to visit again.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lizz Taylor]

A fun cozy mystery. I liked the Little Women aspect of it which made the characters feel familiar and yet new in this setting. I would like to know more about the mystery of the ink pot but I guess that will be in future stories.

[Pat Eroh]

A fun first in series cozy that pulled me in from the start. Harri is a great protagonist and the mystery kept me guessing to the end. Add a little magic and this is the perfect paranormal mystery!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.